Q: Do you think the suspension is aimed at polarizing electorate in upcoming elections?
Tariq Anwar: There can be no polarization on these issues. No community can be made happy by such actions. If the mosque was being built without authorization, then there was nothing wrong in razing it but if it was authorized then it's a matter of concern. Truth has to be verified first. Different versions have come up. Is it because of sand mafia or it was done to appease Muslims? It is sending out wrong message. Whatever is the case, instead of suspending the officer, her seniors should have been sent there and the matter should have been resolved.
Q: Samajwadi party has raised questions over the letter that Sonia Gandhi has written to PM on this issue. They say that Sonia should also write for Ashok Khemka who has suffered because of leveling serious allegations against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi.
Tariq Anwar: I think there was no need for Sonia Gandhi to write any letter to PM on this issue. This was a local issue concerning the state govt. May be because of the fact that Durga Nagpal is a woman, Sonia might have got emotional and that's why she wrote that letter. There was no need to give it so much importance. It is an administrative matter and nothing should be done in haste. Let the matter be fully investigated.
Q: What is your stand on Telangana?
Tariq Anwar: We are in support of Telangana because we are in favour of smaller states.
Q: What about Vidarbha? Your party is in power in Maharashtra.
Tariq Anwar: We have said that we are not against it if the people are in favour of Vidarbha. But it has to be first ascertained whether people want it or not. Let their representatives, MPs and MLAs, raise it if people are in favor of Vidarbha. There has been no Telangana type agitation in Vidarbha.
